Alleged Russian warplanes struck an oil market on the road between Termanin and Darat Ezza causing huge fires, chaos and destruction on July 11th 2016 and killing up to 20 civilians, according to sources on the ground. Reports referred to the attack as a “massacre” due to the level of destruction and high death toll.

None of the reports mentioned the Syrian regime. Local sources such as Zaman Alwasl News reported sighting Russian warplanes. Al Jazeera, Syrian Network for Human Rights and LCCSY also suspected Russian warplanes for the  attack on the oil tanks.

According to the Halab News Network, “Russian warplanes launched more than six raids on the town of Turmanin. It was targeted with rockets on the outskirts of the town on the side near Dara Aza. It also targeted a public road between the two towns [A road dedicated to crossing vehicles and holding diesel tanks].”

The Shaam News Network said that Russian warplanes also targeted Altahmana – the outskirts of the Southern countryside of Idlib – with no documented injures.

Different sources claimed varying numbers of killed and wounded. Smart News put the numbers as high as 20 killed, whereas, Ana News reported the death of nine civilians. Halab News Network said that eight people were killed and several others wounded, “in addition to the burning of about 30 trucks to transport fuel oil, as a result of air strikes on the town of Turmanin”.

Smart News said that more than 20 were injured, the majority civil defence members left in critical conditions. It added that the critically injured were transferred to a hospital in Turkey. Ara News claimed that three members of the civil defence team who were injured were from Killi and Darat Ezza centres.

Quaison News put the numbers slightly lower, at 15 injured, but also reported that the death toll was likely to rise due to the seriousness of the injures.

Syrian Network for human rights use of cluster bombs have proved with photographic evidence that cluster bombs were used in Turmanin.